Tobacco



United States Patent 2,872,360 i TOBACCO Claude E. Teague, Jr., Winston-Salem, N. C., assignor to No Drawing. Application March 13, 1957 Serial No. 645,683

4 Claims. (Cl. 131-17) This invention relates to tobacco and, more particularly, pertains to a tobacco product having improved aroma and flavor characteristics.

Present day cigarette tobaccos comprise essentially blended mixtures of various types of tobaccos which are intended to produce a characteristic flavor and aroma when smoked. Cigarette tobaccos as now prepared are usually blends of (1) heat-cured tobaccos, which are sometimes known as flue-cured, bright leaf or Virginia tobaccos, (2) air-cured tobaccos, which are sometimes known as burley or Kentucky and Maryland tobaccos, and (3) sun-cured tobaccos, which are known as Turkish or Oriental tobaccos. These tobaccos maybe varied in proportion to produce a variety of desired flavors or aromas. Flavoring materials and humectants are also commonly added in order to provide other desired properties in the tobacco.

It is an object of this invention to provide a smoking tobacco having enhanced flavor and odor characteristics,

resulting from the incorporation therein of a novel flav-,

orant.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tobacco having enhanced aroma and flavor which may be prepared in a ready and facile manner.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In accordance with this invention a smoking tobacco is provided which contains as an additive a small amount of -isobutyl-y-butyrolactone. The tobacco may contain between about .1 and .0005 percent of the lactone flavorant and preferably contains between about .01 and .001 percent based on the weight of the total blend. The flavorant addition imparts characteristic and desirable flavor and aroma to the tobacco smoke, thereby increasing the enjoyment of the smoker.

One method for the preparation of 'y-isobutyl-y-bw tyrolactone is as follows:

A mixture of 25 grams (0.145 mole) of methyl 4 keto-G-methylheptanoate, 40 grams (0.2 mole) of aluminum isopropoxide, and 300 milliliters of anhydrous isopropyl alcohol was heated to boiling in a 500 milliliter flask. The fiask was fitted with a 6 inch helix packed column attached at the top to a condenser set for distillation. The mixture was distilled at av rate to give 10 drops of distillate per minute. Isopropyl alcohol was added as required to keep the volume in the distillation flask approximately constant. The initial distillate gave a positive carbonyl test with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine test solution. After ten hours of distillation the distillate gave repeated negative carbonyl tests, indicating complete reduction. The reaction mixture was cooled to 30 C., and at that temperature about two-thirds of the excess solvent was distilled ofl at a pressure of 30 millimeters of mercury. The residual material was acidified with cold, percent aqueous sulfuric acid and extracted with three ZOO-milliliter portions of ethyl ether.

2,872,360 Patented Feb. 3,1959

The combined extract was dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, filtered, andfreed of ether at the water pump, leaving 23 grams of crude lactone. Distillation of the crude product using a Todd column gave 19 grams (92 percent of theory) of -isobutyl-y-butyrolactone, having a boiling point of 138139 C. at a pressure of 30 millimeters of mercury.

It should be noted that the above method of preparation is given solely for purposes of illustration, since other methods of preparation may be employed for obtaining the desired flavorant product.

The additive contemplated by this invention may be incorporated into the tobacco in any desired manner. For example, solutions of the additive in a suitable solvent, such as alcohol, ethyl ether, acetone or the like, may be applied to the tobacco as by spraying or otherwise, whereafter the solvent is driven OK as a vapor leaving the additive thoroughly incorporated with the tobacco. The additive may also be uniformly dispersed in water and applied in a like manner if desired. The

, incorporation of the additive may take place at any time prior to the final packaging of the tobacco product. In the case of cigarette tobacco, it may be incorporated before or after blending of the various tobaccos if, in fact, a blended tobacco i employed, and the additive may be applied to one or all of the blend constituents. Under certain circumstances the additive may be incorporated into the tobacco before aging and curing because the lactone has high chemical stability; however, this would not ordinarily be done since the additive may be lost from the tobacco during the aging and curing process inasmuch as the additive is fairly volatile. In the case of cigarettes the additives in some instances might be applied to the paper or to filter tips instead of to the tobacco. ing additives into tobacco are found in United States Patent No. 2,766,145 which issued on October 9, 1956, to Samuel OBrien Jones and such methods may be used for incorporating the additive contemplated by this invention.

For example, the additive may be incorporated into tobacco as follows: One hundred grams of burley tobacco strips are spread. out on a table and are sprayed with 100 milliliters of 95 percent alcohol having dis solved therein .05 gram of 'y-isobutyl-y-butyrolactone. The treated strips are mixed with 300 grams of burley strips and 600 grams of flue-cured strips and the entire blend is shredded on a tobacco-cutting machine. The resulting tobacco is manufactured into cigarettes which when smoked have an aroma and flavor which are highly desirable.

It will be understood that a tobacco composition has been provided in accordance with this invention which has a unique aroma and flavor to give increased pleasure during smoking. Also the flavorant is elfective in enhancing the aroma of the tobacco in the package prior to smoking. This is a desirable quality in many instances. While the invention has been specifically described with reference to cigarettes, it will be apparent that it has application in the manufacture of other smoking tobaccos such as used for hand-rolled cigarettes, pipes and cigars.

While the lactone additive may be used alone as indicated above, it is, of course, desirable to use it in conjunction with other known flavorants and additives.

While one particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Specific examples of methods of incorporat- Iclaim: 4. A smoking tobacco having added thereto between 1. An article of manufacture comprising tobacco and .01 and .001 percent by weight of 'y-isobutyl-v-butyroa small amount of 'y-isobutyl- -butyrolactone. lactone.

2. A smoking tobacco having added thereto a small amount of isobutyla ibutyrolactone 5 References in the file Of patent 3. A smoking tobacco having added thereto between UNITED STATES PATENTS about .1 and .0005 percent by weight of v-1sobuty1-'y- 2,766,147 Rowland Oct 9, 1956 butyrolactone. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING TOBACCO AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF Y-ISOBUTYL-Y-BUTYROLACTONE. 